From Feb 27, all Air India flights to have single AI code

New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) Four years after the erstwhileIndian Airlines merged with Air India, the national carrierwill now have single code for all its domestic andinternational flights from Sunday.

"February 27 will be a great day in the history ofaviation industry in India; when flight and IATA ticket codesof Air India (098) and erstwhile Indian Airlines (058) will bemerged together and all Air India domestic and Internationalflights will operate as a single airlines with AI (098) ticketcode," an Air India spokesperson said.

The merger of erstwhile Indian Airlines with Air Indiatook place in May 2007.

The codes of all ''IC'' coded flights have been changedto ''AI'' and the airline has made arrangements to informpassengers about revised flight numbers through short messageservice (SMS), telephone calls to individuals and throughtravel agents.

The airline has also advised passengers to contactits toll free number 18001801407 to check their revised flightnumber.

"Air India has selected SITA to provide passengerservice system (PSS) which would be at par with industrystandards and will conform to the requirements of an airlinesalliance," the spokesperson said.

In addition to the core PSS Module, SITA also providedvarious modules like revenue management system, revenueaccounting system, IOCC and hub control, internet bookingengine and loyalty plus etc.

Having two separate flight and IATA codes, postamalgamation, was the biggest hindrance for the nationalcarrier to become a STAR alliance member which has Lufthansa,Continental Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Swiss Air, SingaporeAirlines, Air China, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, South AfricaAirways and others having 21,000 daily departures at 1160airports in 181 countries.

"This amalgamation will be a major step in Air Indiabecoming an active partner of STAR alliance which has the mostrespected member airlines," the spokesperson said.